Apparatus for massaging by vacuum.



No. 653,573. Patented July I0, |9110. H. F. GABEY.

APPARATUS FUR HASSAGING BY VACUUM.

(Application led Nov. 21, 1899.)

(No Modal.)

Inventoryfztorney.

'me Nonms Pzrsns ca. Hora-uma4 WASH UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.'

HENRY F. GAREY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MASSAGING BY VACUUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,573, dated July 10,1900.

Application filed November 21,1899. Serial No. 737,735. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t'tmcty concern.-

Beit known that I, HENRY F. GAREY, a citizen of the United States,residingat Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Machines for Massaging by Vacuum, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for massaging the human eye.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine that will producethe effect of massage by successions of 'intermitting vacuums, which,acting through the medium of a tube and -cup, will apply to the eyeequally-sud# den jerks and releases, as herein set forth.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine, the air-cylinder andrelief-valve being in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, theaircylinder and a portion of the frame being in horizontal section onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View of the suctioncnp and a portionof the tube.

The mechanical construction of the ma# chine will first be described andthen its operation and its action when applied vto the human organismwill be explained.

A suitable base plate A and an upright horizontal plate B, extendingalong they base, An air-suction cylinder 1 comprise the frame. C issecured to the frame and at one end has a funnel-shaped head or nozzled, to which is attached a iexible tube e of any desired length andhaving at its free end a suction-cupf, which 'is to be applied to theeye when the lid is closed. The other end of the cylinder is practicallyopen, only having a cross-bar h, through which the piston rod passes,said cross-bar serving as a guide or slide way for the piston-rod c'.

The piston-head j, of any suitable construction, its Within the cylinderC. The means for imparting reciprocating movement'to the piston-heady'comprises a revoluble shaft L, carrying at one end a crank-head lo, anda rod m, connecting the crank-pin with the pistonrod z'. This crank-headhas a radial slot, and a block n, movable in the slot, carries the crankn', to which the said connecting-rod mis attached. The block is adjustedby means of a diametrical screw o on the head, so as to vary theposition of the crank-pin or its distance from the center, and therebyincrease or diminish the traverse of the piston-head j. At the other endof the shaft L, in the present instance, is a pulley p, anda belt pconnects therefrom to any suitable power for driving this machine. It isobvious any other power mechanism beside the pulley may be employed todrive the shaft L and produce the reciprocating motion of the piston.

The invention provides for producing a Vacuum and then suddenly breakingthe vacuum, thereby to cause a quick pull to be made on the eye followedby a sudden release or letgo. These operations are repeated in quicksuccession. No compression of air on theeye is involved. To effect thisaction, my invention provides means to coact with the strokes of thepiston, which produces a vacuum or suction at each movement in onedirection, so as to suddenly break the said vacuum or suction at ornearthe end of the piston-stroke. .These intermittent vacuums also areproduced in rapid succession and without com* pressions.

In carrying out my invention I provide valve mechanism cooperating withthe piston and cylinder and so constructed that when the piston has'nearly completed its stroke in the direction to create vacuum orsuction a valvewill open and suddenly break the said vacuum or suction,and in order to avoid applying air compression to the eye undertreatment when the piston commences its stroke in the reverse directiona valved will open to allow the air in the cylinder to escape to theatmosphere. Y I will now particularly describe one forni of valvemechanism that will operate in the manner here described and produce thedesired result.

The piston-head j carries a valve q of the puppet form, whose port opensthrough the said head. A rod q' is attached to this valve and extendsparallel with the piston-rod 7l and passing freely through the cross-barh opens and closes the valve by an endwise movement. When the pistonreciprocates, the valve-rod q' also reciprocates endwise by slidingthrough the cross-bar h. A suitable support fr for the valve-rod isstationary on the piston-rod t'. A head s is on the end of IOO thevalve-rod, and a spiral springtis also on the valve-rod between the saidhead and the support r. The head s may consist of a nut screwed onto therod. The spring presses the rod in the direction to keep the valveseated. A bumper u is adjustably secured to the horizontal upright plateB in such position as to be struck by the headed end of the valve-rodwhen the piston has nearly completed its stroke in the direction tocreate Vacuum or suction. The valve-rod striking the bumper u suddenlyopens the valve q in the piston-head and allows atmospheric air to enterthe cylinder and break the vacuum. The bumper u is a block of wood ormetal having a screw shank u', which projects through a horizontal slotu2 in the said upright plate B. The screw-shank has a head n3, byturning which the bumper may be loosened or tightened to adjust it asdesired along the said slot. On the exterior the said wood or metalblock is covered with some suitable cushion u", such as leather, againstwhich the head end of the valve-rod strikes, to prevent a metallicsound. Another valve v is employed to allow the air to escape from thecylinder when the piston commences its stroke in the opposite direction,and thereby avoid compression. lt is immaterial whether this valve belocated in piston-head or at one end of the cylinder. I have shown it inthe latter location. This valve closes a port o and is kept seatedeither by gravity or a very slight spring w, so as to open easily. Thisvalve for purposes of illustration is here shown on a stem x, movable ina screw-bolt y, held in a dome 7:. It will be understood that when thepiston moves toward the nozzle d the valve lU will open on very slightpressure and allow the air in the cylinder to escape to the atmosphereand avoid compression on the eye.

In View of this description the operation of the machine for the purposeof massaging the eye may be briefly described.

The cup f here shown is especially adapted for the eye by its oval oroblong shape (see Fig. 3) and its concaved edge on the long sides of theoval. This cup is placed over the eyelid after closing the eye, and thecup bears or rests against the bone socket about the eye. The machine isstarted and the pis- No air is I have described the machine as adaptedfor and useful in treating the eye; but I want it understood that bysimply varying the shape of the cup the same machine may be used forlocally massaging any part of the human body.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A machine for massaging having in combination a cylinder and pistonto produce a vacuum or suction; a tube leading from the cylinder andhaving at its free end a cup adapted to be applied to some part of thehuman body; and a valve mechanism which, when the piston has nearlycompleted its stroke in the direction to create vacuum or suction, willsuddenly admit air to break such vacuum or suction, as set forth.

2. A machine for massaging having in combination a cylinder and pistonto produce a vacuum or suction; a tube leading from the cylinder andhaving at its free end acup adapted to be applied to some part of thehuman body; and Valve mechanism which admits air to the cylinder tosuddenly break the vacuum or suction, and which on the reverse strokeallows the air in the cylinder to escape to the atmosphere to avoidcompression'.

3. A machine for massaging having in combination a cylinder and pistonto produce a vacuum or suction; a tube leading from the cylinder andhavingat its free end a cup adapted to be applied to some part of thehuman body; a valve carried by the piston and which is opened to breakthe vacuum when the piston has nearly completed its stroke in onedirection; and a valve on the cylinder which opens when the piston movesin the opposite direction to allow air to escape to the atmosphere andavoid compression through the said tube and cup.

4. A machine for massaging having in combination a cylinder and pistonto produce a vacuum or suction; a tube leading from the cylinder andhaving at its free end an oval cup with concave edges on the long sidesand adapted to fit the eye; a valvewhich is opened to break the vacuumwhen the piston has nearly completed its stroke; and a valve which openswhen the piston moves toward the said tube and cup to avoid compressingair.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY F. GAREY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, Jr., CHARLES VIErscH.

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